What's in a name? Quite a lot for persons who have had issues with their names or are no longer married to the person whose surname they carry. The Registrar's General Department provides the option for persons who desire to change their names.

To do so, a person must sign a deed poll, a legal contract that signals a change name.

A deed poll must be signed by the person changing names and a witness.

It should indicate:

A. Abandoning of former name.

B. That the person will be using their new names at all times.

C. Requiring all persons to address you by your new name.

1. In order to change names by deed poll, the individual must be at least 18. If the persons is under 18, a parent can apply for a deed poll on their behalf.

2. A person seeking to secure a deed poll will need to provide:

A. A copy of a birth certificate.

B. A copy of a marriage or divorce certificate.

3. It takes, at most, 10-21 work days to produce a deed poll. During this time, the customer will be required to:

A. Visit the Registrar General's Department and have a copy of the Deed Poll drafted.

B. Sign the new name in the presence of a Justice of the Peace.

C. Take the document (draft copy) to the Stamp Duty and Transfer Tax Department to be legally stamped by a government agent.

D. Return the stamped document to the Registrar General's Department for recording.

The person will receive a certified document, recording the name change, along with birth certificate attached.